This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
NUMBERS
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.
4 And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.
5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.
6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.
7 So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.
8 And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.
God describes two sets of cities which are to be given to the Levites. First, they should have a place to live. Those who serve the Lord and the people of the Lord should be adequately cared for. Second, they only need a small place, because they will not need to raise crops. The "suburbs" are for grazing, and they live by the tithes and offerings of the people.
This first area was to be walled-in for residence. Then another area of 2,000 cubits (or 3,000 sq. ft.) was to surround that city. This second area was for grazing the cattle. This section totals about 103.4 acres, making a grand total of about 155.1 acres, or almost what we would call a section today.
Each of these 48 cities were to be the same size. But there were six of these cities that were special. They were called "cities of refuge." The city of refuge was a place to which a person could run if he killed someone. When a person accused of killing someone came to the city of refuge, it was because the "avenger of blood" (next of kin) was obligated to kill him.
9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
Notice that any slayer who fled to the city of refuge must have done so "unaware," or accidental (see verse 11).
16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.
These are cases in which intent to murder was there before the act was committed. Intention to commit murder, followed by the act is obvious guilt. Notice he didn't go to prison; but he was KILLED!
22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
when intent is NOT shown and a person dies, then the congregation must decide if the slayer willfully murdered of if the killing was accidental.
25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
Even the accidental death of a fellow human being required confinement. The slayer was delivered from the "avenger of blood" but was remanded to the custody of the ciy until the death of the present high priest.
29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
One witness was not enough to bring conviction of the crime of murder. There must be "witnesses" (verse 30). And no payment (or satisfaction) could be made to remain in the city. One could not "buy" his way out (verse 32).
33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
Yes. THAT is a capital punisment law! And here is the reason: killing "defiles" the land. When lives become cheap, there there is no honor to the nation.
Without severity of punishment (considering due process), crime becomes very prevalent.
Please continue to join us for daily Bible study Monday through Friday.
CHAPTER 35
Each city for living area should be 1,000 cubits square, which is 1,500 feet square.
(Perhaps we can get some idea of the size by alluding to present-day measurements. One acre today is 43,560 square feet. That means this area totals to be about 51.7 acres.)
Then, and investigation was made, and if the person was found guilty, he was delivered to the "avenger of blood." However, if he was found NOT guilty, he could leave and no one had authority to kill him. (See Deuteronomy 19:6, 12; 20:3-5)
Human life is very holy.
And of course, if he were found guilty, no payment could be made to absolve the guilt. He MUST die (verse 31).
Some folk seem to believe that even cold-blooded murderers can be rehabilitated, and that we should spend thousands and even millions of dollars to do just that.
But murder is a shame. And shame is the result upon a nation that does not punish the murderer.